On Nov 30, Pope Leo XIV concluded his first international Apostolic Journey, a historic four-day visit to Turkey that served as a powerful testament to Christian unity and interreligious dialogue.
As the Pontiff prepares to depart for Lebanon, he leaves behind a "mosaic" of the faithful and a resounding call for peace in a world scarred by division.
Rejecting Violence in the Name of God
The centerpiece of the Holy Father’s visit was the commemoration of the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. Traveling to Iznik, the site of the ancient council, Pope Leo XIV joined Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I in a moving ecumenical prayer service.
Together, they looked toward the upcoming Jubilee of 2033—the 2000th anniversary of the Redemption—as a horizon for full communion.
In a powerful gesture of brotherhood, the two leaders signed a Joint Declaration, emphatically stating that violence can never be justified in the name of God.
The declaration stands as a firm rejection of fundamentalism and a commitment to "truth and love" as the only valid tools for conflict resolution.
A Mosaic of Faith in Istanbul
In Istanbul, the Pope witnessed the vibrant diversity of the local Church. At a Mass held at the Volkswagen Arena on November 29, Pope Leo celebrated with a "mosaic of different confessions and nationalities."
The liturgy was a reflection of the universal Church, bringing together the small but faithful Catholic community of Turkey—comprising Latin, Armenian, Syriac, and Chaldean rites—along with refugees and migrants from Africa and Asia who have found a home in the region.
"You are a small flock, but you are the salt of the earth," the Pope told the faithful, encouraging them to remain "messengers of hope" in a society where they are a minority.
Whether greeting the diverse faithful at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit or celebrating Mass, the Pope highlighted that differences should not be walls, but rather the stones of a shared home.
Bridge Between East and West
Continuing the legacy of his predecessors, Pope Leo XIV paid a significant visit to the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque). In a moment of silent reverence, he stood alongside Muslim leaders, reinforcing the importance of Turkey as a bridge between East and West, and Islam and Christianity.
Earlier in Ankara, the Pope praised Turkey’s "natural vocation" as a land of encounter. He urged the nation to act as a peacemaker, particularly in the midst of ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
The Holy Father now turns his eyes toward Lebanon, the second leg of this Apostolic Journey, carrying with him the prayers of the Church in Turkey and the hope for a more united world.
